Rotary engine.



B. STRADOVSK Y. ROTAR Y ENGINE.

1 APPLICATION FILED APR-10,1911. h%5fi%% V 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Patented July 6, 1915.

B. STRADOVSKY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-101 1911.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.I0,1911.

LHSfiWW Patented July 6, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET. 3.

B. STRADOVSKY.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1911.

li mfifiwm Patented July 6 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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BOH'IUMIL STRAJDOVSKY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

no'ranr ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, lBoHUMnL S'rnAnovsKY, a citizen of the United States, residing at 10100 Wallace street, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to an lmproved type of rotary engine adapted to employ a volatile and explosive motive fluid.

It consists of the features and elements described and shown in the drawings as indicated in the claims.

lln the drawings Figure 1 is an interior view looking in the direction of the arrows 1-1 on Fig. 2, the right-hand. portion of the casing shown in said figure being removed. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the engine taken as indicated at line 2 2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an exterior elevation showing the inlet valves and trip mechanism of the same. Fig. 4 is a section of an inlet valve taken as indicated at line H on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section taken at line 55 on Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section taken at line 66 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 illustrates that face of the movable gate which receives the impact of explosion. Fig. 8 is a detail of the said gate illustrating Fig. 9

is, a top plan view of the gate looking in the (ill direction of the arrow 9 on Fig. 7. Fig. 10

is an end view of the gate. Fig. 11 illus-' trates a cover plate for the gate pocket. Fig. 12 is adetail in perspective showing the forward side of a piston head. Fig. 13-is a detailed view showing a portion of the easing and gate pocket therein. Fig. It is a detailed section taken .as indicated at line.

1lM on Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a small side elevation of the engine indicating the general exterior appearance.

Essentially this engine comprises a stationary cylindrical shell or casing, a rotor consisting of a drum rigidly secured toa shaft j ournaled axially in the shell, the drum being provided with a series of piston heads extending outwardly to the interior surface of the cylindrical shell, and the shell having a series of movable gates or explosion heads carried in radial pockets and adapted to be thrust inward into the path of the piston heads for completing the closure of a chamber in whichthe explosion of the motive fluid may take place.

' Specification hf Letters Patent.

a lication filed. April it, 1911. Serial no. 619,935.

Patented J1 uly 6,1015.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that the cylindrical shell is composed of two members, 1, 1, secured together by bolts passing through their abutting annular flanges 1. Formed in theshell casting are three radial pockets, 1, disposed at equal intervals around its periphery, de-

signed to contain and guide the gates 2, and provided with cover plates 3, at their outer ends which extend beyond the main wall of the shell cylinder. At one side of each of the pockets 1 the shell is apertured to re- A inlet valves 5 shown in detail in Figs. 3* to 6 inclusive.

Each end wall of the cylindrical shellis thickened about the axis of the cylinder to.

form a journal bearing, 1, for the engine shaft 6, to which is keyed the rotor 7, of the engine. This rotor consists of a hub'l, a drum shaped portion 7*, connected with the hub by outwardly extending webs 7,

and radial vanes 7 and having apair of diametrically opposed piston heads 7. extending outwardly from the drum to the interior curved wall of the cylindrical shell. The rotor is really journaled upon inwardly projecting annular flanges 1, formed integrally with the casing shell and the explosion chamber is formed in the annular portion of the casing outside of this bearing flange 1 At any given instant the walls. of

the explosion chamber comprise a part of the drum 7*, the nearly radial face 7, of

the piston head, an opposing face ofone of the gates 2, and the curved wall of the shell cylinder together with its flat end portions.

The gates 2, are designed to be thrust ra-' dially and inwardly againstthe drum 7", by their springs 2*, and since this brings them into the path of the piston-heads during their radial travel, there are provided inclined webs 7 on the forward sides of piston heads and cooperating friction rollers 2 pocketed in the inner ends of the gates, so that the gates may be readily thrust out of the path of piston travel by the pistons themselves in their passage. I

, j Further description of the details of construction will be'suspended at this point and the general operation of. the engine 1 will now be described.

Supposing the rotation of the shaft 6 to have been initiated in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1, it will be seen that as one of the pistons 7? passes one of the gates 2, the latter, under the force of its spring .2 will quickly slip into position behind the piston, completing the closure of an annular chamber formed by the, side walls of the housing, thedrum portion of the revolving rotor and the interior curved face of the housing, thischamber being of Variable volume according to the distance of the piston 7 from the forward face of the gate, 2. Immediately upon-closure of the chamber by the gate, 2, the inlet valve, 5, is automatically opened by means controlled by the rotation of the piston and hereinafter described, thus admitting to the chamber a v supply of motive fluid under such pressure as adapts such motive fluid for ready explosion. A sufiicient quantity of fluid hav- .-ing been admitted, the inlet valve closes and e arge isv ignited byan electric spark occurring in a spark plug, 4, positioned as already noted and electrically connected.

with a suitable commutator or timer posijtively driven by the shaft of the engine.

the latter portion ofthe piston travel just I "preceding its passing of the exhaust aper- ,ture, the inclined shoulders, 7? encounter the friction rollers, 2", of the next succeeda0 ing gate, 2, and proceed to thrust the gate 1 radiallyout of the path of the piston,1t0.

permit its passage, after which the above. described cycle is repeated each time" the piston encounters one of the gates, 2. In the engine asshown, with two pistons and three gates symmetrically disposed about the axis of the explosion cylinder, it will be seen that six explosions will occur during each revolution of the shaf t,vthat is three explosions against each of the two plstons.

-The result is an overlap of successive explosions of approximately OHB-SIXth, of a I revolutionand a consequent'torque of very satisfactory uniformity.

" tion offthe inlet valves, 5, will first be con- Inthe description of details the construcsidered. It is the intention that the: motive fluid shall enter the explosion. chamber of this engine under the proper compression,

instead jof being compressed within thechamber, as is more usual inthe reciprocating type of. the explosive motor. For this reason-it would be impracticable to employ puppet valves in.- the inlet ports, sincethe pressure on the valve actssometimes from one side and sometimes from the other, according toconditions during different portions of the cycle of operation. If the ordinary form of puppet valve, opening inwardly, were employed, it wduld tend to open under pressure of the motive fluid outside the engine during the period of exhaust, especially toward the end of that period when the pressure within-the chamber was reduced practically to atmospheric pressure. A convenient form of inlet valve for this type of motor is illustrated in Figs. Sto 6 inclusive, in which 5 is the valve shell having a threaded aperture 5", adapted for connection with a motive fluid supply pipe and screwed onto a removable base portion, 5, adapted to be secured to the casing shell. The base 5 has a nipple 5 tapered and adapted for connection with the inlet port 1. Within the shell and shown as integral with the base portion there is a wall 5,

shown in detail in Fig. 5 having a series of apertures 5, equally spaced about its center. A bushing 5 carries the valve stem 5, to the inner. end of which is rigidly secured a disk 5, having apertures 5 ,'corresponding to the apertures15, of the interior wall. This disk is illustrated in Fig. 6. It will be seen that the operation of thevalve is accomplished by a slight rotation of the valve stem which causes the apertures 5 to register with the apertures 5, or to move out of registration with them, according to whether the valve is being opened or closed. A spring, 5 maintains contact between the ,disk 5 and the wall 5, insuring perfect closure of the port when desired. A

lever 5*, rigidly secured to the stem 5, projects inwardly ,from the valve toward the engine shaft in position to contact with a roller 8, carried by'adisk'8, secured to the engine shaft 6. Rotation of the shaft thus automatically opens the valves at the time determined by the location of the rollers 8 on thedisk 8; and the closure of each valve is accomplished by a spring 5"" after the lever has swung out} of contact with the roller 8. The direction of rotation of the disk 8 is indicated bythe arrows on Fig. 3, passing through the rollers 8; the direction of movement of the valve levers for opening the valvesis also indicated by arrows on Fig. '3 and the inlet pipesleading into the apertures 5 are shown broken off,the construction beyond this point being immaterial and not essential to the invention.

In this type of motor there is no necessity fora valve controlling each of the exhaust ports since at any given instant, the exhaust gas is separated from the live gas by one or both of the piston heads, the live gas occupying the space behind the piston head that is between its face, 7 and the opposing face of the nearest one of, the gates, 2,and the burnt gas occupying the space directlv manner I v ahead of the piston as faras the nearest gate,

exhaust ports, therefore are merely'radial apertures formed in the flanges, l, of the casing shell, and threaded for connection with any convenient form of exhaust pipe which may or may not be extended to connect with a muffler if desired.

The exhaust is further facilitated by a peculiar construction of the rotor, as follOWSZ The piston heads are made hollow and their cavities communicate with the space on either side of each of the webs 7. munication trom'sideto' side of these webs is afi orded by the apertures, 7, in the webs,

but the space is divided into two separate chambers by the tour partitioning vanes, 7 two of which are apertured as at 7, and are therefore not true partitions. 7, are positioned approximately radially within the rotor drum, but only those portions standing between the two webs 7, are

in truly radial planes. At both sides of the rotor the vanes 7 lean slightly toward the direction of rotation so as to constitute rotary suction tans, designed to draw air through the apertures, 1 of the easing into interior chambers of the rotor, from which it may escape only through apertures, 'Y, in the forward sides of the piston heads. Fromthis point the air will become mixed with the exhaust gases and will pass out with them through the exhaust ports 1. This constant supply of tresh,and comparatively cool air, is calculated to assist in the cooling of the piston heads and of the combustion chamber walls, as well as to facilitate the removal of the exhaust gases.

As may be seen by reference to Figs. 13

and'lt, the gates, 2, are carried in radialgrooves, 1*, which are virtually continuations inwardly of the pockets, 1*. The gates are made to fit closely in these grooves and pockets in order to accomplish the closure ot the combustion chamber as perfectly as possible and it will be evident that with such construction, the compression of the air withinthe pocket which would result from movement of the gate therein, might tend to retard the action and heat the parts. For this reason, an air vent, 3 is provided in the cover plate, 3, shown in Fig. 11. With this construction not only is the danger of overheating avoided, but, a positive cooling effeet is obtained from the pumping action or the sliding gates. which furnishes to the in terior of the pockets, 1', and to the cavities of the hollow gates, 2, a constantly changing supply of fresh and cool air. This cover Com The vanes,

by screws or bolts passing into bosses, l, exteriorly formed on the pockets.

In addition to the cooling efl'ect obtained by passin fresh air through the combustion cham ers and out through the exhaust ports with the burnt' gases, it is found convenient and comparatively sim le constructionally, to cast the shell mem ers, 1, with water jackets as indicated at J. v

The problem of packing a motor of this type difl'ers Widely from the problem pre-.

sented in the usual reciprocating type of explosive motor in which practically all of the parts which must be made gas-tight are of cylindrical. form and move along their axes, rather than revolving about them. lln this motor, all but two of the packing elements are made with straight edges and flat wearing surfaces, th two exceptions being the rings, A, located i annular grooves in the bearing flanges, 1 The outer end of each pistonhead is provided with a packing strip, 13, which hasin- Wardly extending stems, B i,-;"icontacting with the free ends or the flat springs, B secured to the inner walls sci-thev piston heads, and operating to thrust the packing strips, B, outward against the cylindrical the direction of rotation of the rotor. Near their forward ends these leadstems are pivotally secured in lugs, 7 extending laterally from the webs, 7 The length ofthese stems is slightly in excess of the width otthe slots, 1, in which the gates, 2, are carried and it is the purpose of the lead stems to bridge these slots and guide the packing strips, D,sately across them without danger of becoming snagged, asthey llll necessarily would be when thrust outwardlyv by their springs, D it the lead stems were notprovided. The forward ends of the stems are shown as slightlyrounded to in- .sureagainst their becoming snagged by the slots, l? at these points. in addition to the strips, 6?, eachet the gates, 2, isturnished with a packing strip, E, located in the forward face, which receives the impact of the explosion and which therefore must be made gas-tight atitslineot contact with the face 5 the ket, 1*. The spring, E and contact stems, E ct thisstri'pare shown in Fig. '9 ot the drawings. I

V I The oiling of the shaftjournal bearings &

may be accomplished by any usual method,

as may also the lubrication of the moving ture, F in the shell at the slot, 1}, which is located near the bottom of the engine when l the latter is mounted as indicated by the position of the securing lugs, G. Just before the rotor reaches the position at which it is shown in Fig. 1, and as the lowest gate,

2, is thrust downwardly by the inclined webs, 7 of the rotor, the aperture, F

'which is normally closed by the said gate, 2, is opened and a quantity of oil is shot under pressure into, the annular chamber just ahead of the moving piston. The piston, by virtue of its close contact with the cylindrical wall of the shell, carries the oil with it as it rises'in its rotation, leaving only a thin film of lubricant upon the casing wall.

' As the piston nears the highest point of its path, the oil which is pocketed between the piston near its outer edge and the wall'of the shell, tends to fiow'down over the forward face of the piston and is caughtin the pocket, H, provided therein for'that purpose. Passing the high point of its'path, the piston assumes a position at which the oil accumulated in this pocket tends to flow out again and in this way the remaining portion of the casing wall is lubricated just previous to the passage of the piston. In other words, the pistons are made to act as distributers for the oil which is injected into the annular chamber of the casing through the aperture, F Except at the instant just previous to the passage of one .ofthe sidewardly extending ducts, H indicated in pistons by this aperture, the aperture is closed, either by the piston itself,.or by the gate, 2, which normally stands abutting the drum portion of the rotor. Through the dotted lines inFig. 12, the oil pockets, H,

distribute the oil to the grooves in'which the packing strips, B and I), are lodged, preventing the packing frombecoming gumm'ed and sticking in its grooves. I

' For constructional purposes 1t is found convenient to make thev piston head witha removable forward wall, 7, which is secured to the main rotor casting by screws, 7, taking into those portions of the webs, 7, which extend out into the hollow piston heads. This wall, 7, contains the apertures, 7 through which the cooling air is forced into the annular chamber of the shell, as already described. This construction also makes itpossible to fasten the springs, B

to the cover-plate, 7", while it is detached from the piston head, an operation which would be practically impossibleif the piston head were of absolutely unitary construction.

'Another important feature in the design 'of the piston heads is the shape of the wall which receives the impact of explosion and along which the gates, C, slide into position as it passes them. In order that the combustion chamber shall be practically gas-tight, the compression springs, 2, must be made relatively stiff, so as to thrust the gates quite strongly against the drum-shaped wall of the rotor. To prevent this thrust from becoming a hammer action, which would cause rapid wear and malformation of the drum, the face, 7, of the piston is inclined from a truly radial plane so as to be in contact with the edge of the gate, 2, throughout its movement inwardly to the drum. This sloping face, 7, blends into the cylindrical surface of the drum, 7", in a curve at, 7, so

that within the limits of the speed at which the rotor is intended to be run, the gates will slide gently though quickly into contact with the 'drumfsurface.

I claim 1 1. In a rotary explosive motor comprising a cylindrical shell, a drum journaled axially therein and having piston heads extending outwardly from its cylindrical surface ,tothe cylindrical wall of the shell, and a series of movable gates adapted to cooperate with the piston heads to form explosion chambers, the drum and its piston heads being interiorly chambered, said chambers being in constant communication with the outside air,

the shell being provided with exhaust ports and the piston heads having apertures arranged to furnish free access of air from the chamber of the drum through said exhaust ports during the exhaustportion of the engines cycle. w 2. In a rotary explosive motor comprising a cylindrical shell, a drum journaled axially therein having piston heads extending outwardly from its-cylindrical surface to the cylindrical Wall of the shell, the drum and its piston'heads bein interiorly chambered,

the chamber of the rum being open to the outside air, and the piston heads having apertures leading from their chambers through theirforward faces into the annular explosion chamber of the motor, said annular chamber being provided with exhaust ports leading to the outside air.

3. In a rotary explosive motor comprising a cylindrical shell, adrum journaled axially therein and having piston heads extending outwardly from its cylindrical surface to the lad cylindrical wall of the shell, the drum and its piston heads being interiorly chambered, the drum chamber opening to the outside air, the drum having Webs in its ends arranged askew for drawing air into its chamber during its rotation, and the piston heads having apertures opening into the interior of the shell, saidshell being provided with exhaust ports communicating with the out-' side air.

4. In a rotary explosive motor comprising a cylindrical shell, a drum journaled axially therein and having piston heads extending upwardly'from its cylindrical surface to the cylindrical Wall of the shell, the drum and its piston heads being interiorly chambered and open to the outside air, said drum having transaxial stiffening webs partitioning its chamber and apertured to afford intercommunication between the several parts thereof, said stiffening webs bei 1g supplemented at each end of the drum by approximately radial webs set slightly askew for drawing air through the chamber during rotation of the drum, the piston heads having apertures opening into the interior of the shell and having interior ribs extending into their chambers, and the shell being provided with a series of exhaust ports opening to the outside air.

5. In a rotary explosive engine comprising a cylindrical shell, a drum journaled'axially therein and dimensioned to form an annular chamber between its outer surface and the inner cylindrical surface of the shell, the drum having piston heads extending outwardly into said annular chamber, a radial pocket in the shell, and agate slidably mounted in said pocket for movement toward and from the cylindrical surface of the drum to cooperate with said piston heads for constituting an explosion chamber, said gate being interiorly chambered and having its outer surface grooved, a packing strip lodged in such groove and having a stem projecting into the interior chamber of the gate, and a spring mounted in said chamber for thrusting against said inwardly projecting stem, theouter end of the pocket being it apertured to admit the outer air.

6. In a rotary explosive engine, a fixed cylindrical element and a rotary element journaledco-axially therewith, and the cylindrical surfaces of said elements being sepathe drum to the contacting surface of the W head, and the gates being provided at their extending ends with rollers, positioned to co-act with such inclined portions of the piston heads. u

In testimony whereof I have hereunto-set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 6th. day of April, 1911. I

v BOHUMIL strRAnovsKY. Witnesses:

R031. N. lBUR'roN, LUCY I. STONE. 

